Still smarting from the calamitous surrender of five points from their two previous games, Charlton squared off with close rivals Bradford in a make-or-break clash for a place among the play-offs contenders. Even with a third of the season remaining, there's a distinct, psychological advantage to being among the top six teams.

By beating City, the Addicks would have leapfrogged the sixth-placed Bantams to lead them by a point with two useful games in hand. Throw in a superior goal difference and the prize for victory was huge. Simple arithmetic shows that defeat, on the other hand, would have represented a devastating body blow. So Charlton took the third option and, in painfully familiar circumstances, not to mention their patented 1-1 scoreline, marked time and continued to press their noses against the window to the holy grail.

Pegged back yet again by a late equaliser, this latest setback heaped more disappointment on Karl Robinson's men. Setting out with their usual elan, they were denied an early breakthrough when Colin Doyle brilliantly tipped Mark Marshall's bottom-corner bound shot against a post to safety. The keeper then kept out Sullay KaiKai's venomous volley with his legs before doing his resourceful best to prevent Josh Magennis from giving Charlton the lead midway through the first half.

The spadework was provided by Marshall, whose jinking run made space on the right to deliver a cleverly dinked cross aimed for Magennis. Climbing above two defenders, the back in-form striker generated just enough power in his downward header to squeeze the ball inside the left post, despite Doyle's frantic efforts to scrape it back in play. Referee Nicholas Kinseley, whose laissez-faire attitude to City's uncompromising physicality hardly endeared him to an openly mutinous Robinson, was ideally positioned to rule in Charlton's favour.

And this was where we came in. For having played the visitors off the park with a beguiling but all-too-brief blend of pace, power and skill, the Addicks began to falter as usual. While contributing little beyond the searing drive from Adam Chicksen which skimmed the bar shortly before the break, City retired with a toehold in a game which had threatened to run away from them. And as they improved, so their opponents' self-belief evaporated.

With only a single goal to protect, Charlton began the second half in frankly unconvincing quest of a second. Tariqe Fosu went close with a right-footed drive narrowly too high, then briefly troubled the Yorkshiremen with a corner which was awkwardly cleared at the near post.

But the pendulum had swung and it required a fine save from Ben Amos to keep out the volley with which Chicksen met Tony McMahon's inswinging corner from the right. Interval substitute Paul Taylor beat Amos on the rebound but Magennis, a tower of strength to his side in both penalty areas, cleared his effort off the goalline.

On 67 minutes, the Addicks survived a scare which suggested that sheer luck might, on this occasion, come to their rescue. Setpiece specialist McMahon stepped up to a free kick, awarded for Fosu's earnest attempt to decapitate Chicksen 20 yards out, and left Amos helpless as he sent it crashing against the bar.
Shortly after the escape, Fosu made a final effort to finish off the resurgent Bantams. A regular target, along with Kaikai, for City's cynical litany of fouls (Charlton were no angels themselves), he hauled himself up after being decked by McMahon to curl the free kick towards the far top corner. Backpedalling urgently, Doyle pawed the fast-dropping ball to safety, his vital save setting the stage for an increasingly inevitable equaliser.

Banished to the stands as the exchanges grew tetchier, Simon Grayson probably masterminded the 76th minute replacement of the embattled Chicksen by Tyrell Robinson from his new vantage point. If so, City's new boss was handsomely vindicated by the newcomer's first significant contribution. Stealing a yard on Chris Solly as he moved to meet Charlie Wyke's faintly deflected centre, Robinson firmly headed City's point-saver inside the right post. And there it was again - a delirious Jimmy Seed stand celebrating late salvation while the home tribunes looked on in sullen resentment. So is there a solution to the problem? Well, we could try kicking the other bloody way for a change. If it's broke, fix it!

Very few of a chilled crowd slightly north of 10,000 who braved the miserable elements to attend this unpromising fixture expected a footballing classic. No offence intended to either club but an encounter between Charlton and Walsall is rarely one to race the pulse or curdle the blood.

As so it turned out again on Saturday. This keenly disputed duel fell short of classical, with its catalogue of errors, missed chances and pratfalls. What it did provide though was a riproaring, roistering, old-fashioned thriller, crammed with near things and superb goals; a cracker, in other words, disputed by hell-for-leather sides without an ounce of malice between them. Pity there had to be a loser but that's how it goes. Walsall wouldn't want our crocodile tears.

The opening half hour, to be honest, didn't amount to much and the first mutterings of discontent were growing in volume by the time Joe Aribo adroitly fired the home side into the lead. For the Addicks, Josh Magennis had forced Liam Roberts into a smart, sprawling save, while Ahmed Kashi's fine diving clearance and follow-up block on George Dobson dealt with Walsall's best effort. Charlton's painstaking, slow-tempo progress from their own half was beginning to grate when the increasingly indispensable Aribo calmed a potentially mutinous Valley just past the half hour.

Trying his luck on the left flank, Mark Marshall stole a yard on marker Adam Chambers to make space for a soaring cross which eluded Magennis at the far post but was cushioned on the volley inside the right-hand post by Aribo. The addition of goals -this was his third of the season - completes the rapidly improving midfielder's cv and represents another triumph for the assembly line supervised by Steve Avery. Aribo was one of four academy graduates in the starting line-up on Saturday, with another four, among them late substitute Karlan Ahearne-Grant, warming the bench. If Charlton are imploding, as we're warned they are, they' ll be leaving a young, healthy footprint behind them.

Aribo's fine strike not only galvanised the Addicks but persuaded the Saddlers to throw off their defensive caution. Suddenly the joint was jumping.

Fine footwork by the on-fire Aribo set up Stephy Mavididi's brutal 25 -yard drive which all but splintered the crossbar but it was anything but one-way traffic, not while crafty, sawn-off playmaker Erhun Oztumer cleverly pulled the strings for the Blackcountrymen. His razor-sharp one-two with Tyler Roberts prised Charlton open but was let down by a sliced finish. Hard to discourage, the Greenwich-born former Addicks scholar equalised shortly before the break.

While struggling to contain the menace of 18 year-old WBA loanee Tyler Roberts, Chris Solly was sidetracked as left back Liam Leahy picked up Roberts' pass and dropped a precise cross on the penalty spot. Having timed his run perfectly, Oztumer had no need to jump as he neatly steered a header into the bottom right corner.

Two minutes into the second half, the visitors spurned a glittering opportunity to seize the initiative. After dispossessing a floundering Harry Lennon near the right touchline, Joe Edwards cut in and set up Amadou Bakayoko to finish from point-blank range. Appearing from seemingly nowhere, Ezri Konsa managed to block the certainty, with Bakayoko hammering the rebound against the bar. Despite remaining defiant, it was mainly downhill for the Saddlers following the glaring miss. Konsa, by the way, continues to work out his notice with professional commitment.

The final contribution of Ben Reeves, before he gave way to the rehabilitated Tarique Fosu, was a glorious through ball which sent Magennis through to shoot disappointingly against the advancing Liam Roberts. The arrival of an often unplayable Fosu, who joined Mavididi and consistently excellent Jay Dasilva in tormenting the Midlanders with their bewildering repertoire of adhesive touches, blistering pace and mesmerising close control, was the beginning of the end for the bewitched visitors. But a second goal was urgently required and Charlton left it uncomfortably late to find one.

Among the blizzard of chances they created, Fosu stung Liam Roberts' palms with a near post rasper before Mavididi overpowered Korey Roberts on the left byline but unwisely chose to shoot straight at the keeper from an impossible angle, with Aribo an imploring option to his right. With desperation growing, Magennis flicked Marshall's corner against a post before Walsall somehow survived a frantic goalmouth scramble, during which Korey Roberts cleared off the line from Aribo and Leahy repeated the feat to foil Lennon. The intense pressure eventually told on stubborn Walsall with nineteen minutes remaining.

Sent haring through by Dasilva's incisive pass, Mavididi kept his nose in front of Korey Roberts and was preparing to shoot on the run when the panicky defender's lunged to intervene but sent the ball rolling into his own goal.

There was still time for Marshall to spoon Fosu's precise cutback high over the bar before Mavididi removed the tension from five added minutes by soloing through again to seal the issue at close range. Attack, attack, attack, it's a novel way to defend but Karl Robinson's skill-saturated Charlton side should try it more often. Saves on chewed fingernails and shredded nerves.

A frustrated Karl Robinson had two important statistics at hand to explain Charlton's exit from the Checkatrade Trophy, in arctic weather tolerable by human beings but ominous for the welfare of brass monkeys.

"We had over 60% of possession and 23 shots to one from them. You're writing the same article every week. Charlton were the better team but didn't take their chances", the beleaguered manager complained.

There's more than a grain of truth in Robinson's lament but it hardly tells the full story. Charlton were superior in the first half on Tuesday evening, withdrew at half-time in front but re-emerged following the break a totally different side. As did the outplayed visitors who, no doubt, drew encouragement from knowing that their hosts rarely score more than once and find it impossible to seal the issue with a second goal. The word is out on Charlton. They give suckers an even break. So it's worth hanging in there against them.

This 3rd round tie opened along familiar lines. The Addicks tore from the traps and were spectacularly fired ahead after just seven minutes by Karlan Ahearne-Grant. Enthusiastically chasing down Ricardhino's wayward pass before it crossed the left touchline for a throw-in, he retraced his steps, cruised inside Canice Carroll, then gave Scott Shearer no chance with an unstoppable right-footed drive into the far corner. Ahearne-Grant's premature withdrawal, hopefully for precautionary reasons just past the half hour, summed up the wretched luck of both this mercurial player and his injury-haunted manager.

Comfortably on top, Charlton pottered about in familiar, unconvincing pursuit of a second, reassuring goal. Ahmed Kashi stung Shearer's hand from 30 yards but it was the holding midfielder whose carelessness in possession gave United their first sliver of hope. Pouncing on Kashi's error, Ryan Ledson broke through but was foiled by Ezri Konsa's brilliant saving tackle. The visitors were sporadically dangerous, with Wes Thomas' cross from the left eluding everyone on its way across the six-yard line. Dillon Phillips' low save from Jack Payne, meanwhile, confounded Robinson's assertion that the visitors had managed but a single shot. Their shooting accuracy, in fact, was to serve them well in decisive circumstances later on.

Two apparently different sides resumed after the interval and within nine minutes Oxford were level. Ledson's optimistic punt forward was disputed by Anfernee Dijksteel and a stumbling Thomas, who shook off the youngster before prodding an opportunistic equaliser past Phillips. As the momentum shifted, Jon Obika's shot was smartly saved by Phillips, with Johnnie Jackson hacking Malachi Napa's point blank follow-up off the goalline.

The dubious prize of a place in the 4th round of this unloved competition was now up for grabs, with Charlton huffing and Oxford puffing in quest of a winner. Stephy Mavididi came closest to sparing us Charlton's subsequent humiliation but his low effort squeezed inches wide.

By then, it had become inevitable that this tie would be resolved by penalties and equally predictable that the Addicks would finish on the short end. In the process, they added three more shots to Robinson's figure of 23, each of them a hapless nail in their Checkatrade coffin. Thanks to the new Abba system, three misses were all that were needed before the shambles was over. For small mercies, may the Checkatrade Trophy make us truly grateful.

Brash, brawny and brave, Gillingham delighted over 1,400 raucous followers by winning at The Valley for the first time in their unremarkable history. Rank outsiders at 7-2 before they arrived, they made nonsense of the odds and proved that, in football, if you want it badly enough, the impossible becomes merely improbable. It's an axiom well known to the generations of Charlton fans who have suffered at Millwall's hands despite, on many occasions, having the better team. For Millwall, recently read upstarts Gillingham, who completed a league double with this bitterly earned victory.

Clearly more motivated than their sleepwalking hosts, the Kent side tore into them during the early going, moved 2-0 in front just past the half hour, then defended as though their very lives depended on it as the opening storm inevitably abated. The Addicks, on the other hand, put in their familiar Jekyll and Hyde performance. Mr. Hyde spread irreponsible chaos during a disastrous first half; Dr. Jekyll emerged after the break and tried desperately but vainly to repair the destruction wreaked by his alter ego.

Those opening 45 minutes rivalled the first half horror show at Southend on Boxing Day in their sheer incompetence. Showing an embarrassing lack of New Year resolution, Charlton resembled a hastily cobbled-together Sunday park side. Centre backs Naby Sarr and Harry Lennon seemed never to have met before, with Sarr, in particular, currently miscast as a central defender. Unreliable in the air despite his impressive physique, Sarr's inability to control Gillingham's find-of-the-season Tom Eaves became painful to watch. At Sarr's side, Lennon lurched from one positional crisis to the next as Eaves and his burly sidekick Josh Parker backed into them and did as they liked.

Still an unknown quantity, Eaves, whose goal beat Charlton at Gillingham in September, was a muscular, surprisingly mobile handful. He began badly by shooting straight at Ben Amos after playmaker Lee Martin's superbly lofted delivery left him with only the goalkeeper to beat but didn't allow the miss to dent his confidence. With just eleven minutes played, he outmuscled Sarr under an innocuous high ball, shook off the floundering defender on the turn and sprinted clear. His hard low ball across the six-yard line left Parker with the simple task of tapping home at the far post.

The first signs of muttered mutiny swelled into a resentful rumpus when the irreverent visitors doubled their advantage. Caught on the break while right back Luke O'Neill turned defence into attack with an aggressive burst into yawning space vacated by Jay Dasilva, the Addicks were ball watching onlookers as Eaves, at full stretch, studded the cross past Amos. Eaves' suspiciously offside position hardly excused either Lennon's fatal hesitation or a corporate failure to close ranks against danger.

An awkward effort, screwed wide by Ben Reeves from Ricky Holmes' right wing cross, was Charlton's only contribution to a nightmare first half. Their build-up was stodgy with three ponderous passes used when only two were necessary; movement was leaden, inspiration an absentee, recovery unlikely. The home side were shapeless putty in Gillingham's hands until the half-time replacements, of disappointing Reeves by eager beaver Joe Aribo and the injured Jake Forster-Caskey by physical threat Leon Best, changed the dynamic. The second half began encouragingly but almost immediately hit a roadblock.

It was ironic and typical of Karl Robinson's luck that Best, after a briefly promising eight-minute cameo, succumbed again to injury and was substituted by Karlan Ahearne-Grant - not that the latter, it should be said, let him down.

Aribo laid claim, meanwhile, to a starting role with an energetic, productive display, which introduced urgency and increased tempo. His clever one-two with Best set up his fellow substitute to test Tomas Holy's reflexes, an effort which launched a blizzard of chances during a non-stop siege of Holy's goal.

Holmes' volleyed cross was met by Josh Magennis, whose header scraped the bar; Ahearne-Grant skinned Bradley Garmston before whipping over a centre on the run, to which Mark Marshall failed by inches to apply a decisive touch; Garmston typified his side's courage by beating Magennis to Holmes' teasing delivery and crashing painfully against a post as he cleared it to safety; Ezri Konsa's close range shot from Marshall's cutback was brilliantly blocked by Holy, who again distinguished himself by charging down Magennis' point blank header, which firmly met Marshall's cross.

The battling visitors were out on their feet by the time Aribo reduced the arrears with seven minutes left. His subtle, glancing header re-directed Holmes' inswinging corner from the left neatly inside the far post. Almost immediately, the scorer came agonisingly close to equalising as he swivelled on a loose ball created by Magennis' goalmouth challenge but could only toe wide. Charlton's bolt was shot and six comfortably negotiated added minutes later, the field -and three priceless points - belonged to Gillingham and their crowing camp followers. It's become a familiar sight, not to mention a recurring theme at The Valley, where quiet resignation and deepening despair have become accepted as normal. And where disappointment goes with the territory.

The number of vital points irresponsibly squandered by Charlton in the dying throes of eminently winnable games swelled by two as powderpuff Blackpool bundled home an 89th minute equaliser. Armand Gnanduillet's goal came as no surprise to home fans accustomed to watching their heroes unconvincingly defend an early lead until confronted by the finishing line, when panic sets in.

The Seasiders had clung to forlorn hope as their hosts predictably failed to add to Joe Aribo's excellent solo effort - his first serious goal for the club - and left themselves vulnerable to late disaster. Sure enough, Anfernee Dijksteel's foul on Gnanduillet conceded a free kick which was swung in from the left by Jimmy Ryan; Naby Sarr's clearing header was weak and Gnanduillet nodded in off teammate Clark Robertson.

Had the Addicks gone the distance, Karl Robinson would have been entitled to quiet pride in his injury-ravaged line-up which included only two survivors (Ben Amos and Jay Dasilva) of the side which faced Bristol Rovers on opening day. A frankly horrendous casualty list has torn the heart and soul from his squad and that these patched-up, papered-over remnants went so close to winning would usually earn respect. But close is no cigar and football is an unforgiving and unsentimental business. Near things don't count. Only winning matters.

A frustrated Robinson won't be consoled by knowing that if his side had converted even one of several gilt-edged first half chances, Gnanduillet's goal would have been no more than consolation for Blackpool. That's a well-worn theme. Aribo's marvellous opener should have been enough anyway.

Accepting Sarr's incisive pass on the turn, the hardworking midfielder took on the heart of the visitors' rearguard, picking off three defensive statues during a weaving solo run before shooting across keeper Ben Williams into the far bottom corner from 12 yards.

The litany of missed chances began with the awkwardly volleyed mess made by Josh Magennis of converting Mark Marshall's pinpoint cross. With only Williams to beat, the burly forward's shot cleared the bar on one bounce.

A persistent threat down Charlton's left flank, Dasilva then delivered a textbook-perfect centre, met solidly by Leon Best's diving header which seemed netbound until Williams, launching himself low to his right, saved brilliantly. Best could be considered unlucky on that occasion. He had no such excuse when sweeping a first time shot well wide after Magennis's turn of speed and clever pull-back from the left set him up near the penalty spot. Despite his faulty finishing, Best posed problems for the visitors before joining the walking wounded just past the hour with what might be a loan-ending injury.

Coping comfortably with Blackpool's aenemic threat up front, meanwhile, the Addicks were briefly ruffled when Gnanduillet's persistence troubled Exri Konsa and forced Ben Amos to scramble his close range effort to safety off a post. The Frenchman also shot narrowly wide to close the first half.

That elusive second goal continued to haunt Charlton after the break. Marshall fired off target after Magennis stole possession off Robertson. There was almost a dream league debut for George Lapslie, who exchanged sharp passes with Aribo, shot on the run but was alertly blocked by Andy Taylor. But the issue remained unsettled and the Seasiders sensed an unlikely chance. Dijksteel's disputed foul exposed Charlton's chronic vulnerability to free kicks, with 6'5" Sarr's ballooned header betraying his surprising unreliability in the air and Gnanduillet making the most of the gift. Both Sarr and Konsa boast enviable skill on the ball; both need reminding, however, that centre backs, even deputies, have no business being eccentric or entertaining. Their chief function is to protect their goal at all costs and it's no sin to clear your lines when the situation calls for matter over mind. It might have paid off on several occasions during this dog's breakfast of a season -doing whatever it takes to climb out of this wretched division in other words.

This report is dedicated to John Bates, a good friend whose funeral and typically lively wake at Downham Tavern we attended last Wednesday. John was a salty, world weary Charlton fan who, despite the disappointments that came with the territory, never denied his allegiance. He came off the estate, where he was widely known and respected and will be impossible to forget. Goodbye, John, the pleasure was always ours. Kevin and Hazel

History blew a golden opportunity to repeat itself at a refrigerated Valley on Saturday. It reproduced almost everything from the past but fell down on one crucial detail. We'll clarify that later.

The FA had done its bit by arranging that Portsmouth would again provide the opposition to mark the silver jubilee of Charlton being frogmarched back to their venerable old ground by fans who wouldn't take no for an answer. As expected, the marvellously loyal South Coasters sold out the away end and spilled over into the east stand.

Karl Robinson's men marked the historic occasion by wearing replicas of the shirts worn by the heroes of December 1992, some of whom were on hand to surf the wave of nostalgia. A spirited all-drum band quickened the pulses, note-perfect tenor Martin Toal reprised "Nessun Dorma" and Charlton's academy kids formed a guard of honour to welcome the teams on to their field of dreams. Everything was in place to celebrate one of the most iconic dates in the Addicks' 112-year old history. Everything, that is, except Pompey who got the score right but not necessarily in the right order.

Clearly unwilling to follow the obvious script, as their 1992 predecessors obediently did, Kenny Jackett's all-Blues were well-organised, determined and unsentimental. Fancying their chances of overhauling the Addicks in the race for a play-off berth, they spoiled, kibitzed and wasted time shamelessly. Their tactics were vindicated by the ludicrous addition of three measly minutes to a second half during which the visitors scored early, then improvised some novel tricks to kill this game stone dead. Odd how often their pain threshhold was crossed. Or their bootlaces became untied.

Not that Charlton deserved more or Portsmouth less from this generally lifeless encounter. Robinson's side, admittedly depleted by injuries, most significantly to key centre backs Jason Pearce and Patrick Bauer, were dire. Without a recognised goalscorer in their ranks, it's no surprise that they have failed to score in each of their five league defeats. Despite testing keeper Luke McGee with occasional individual efforts, they were largely toothless and ineffectual. There were to be none of the late heroics which papered over cracks recently against Peterborough, although substitute Leon Best's subtle header from Chris Solly's cross briefly promised an equaliser until McGee's scrambling save at the foot of his right-hand post quashed their last hope.

Carried along by the pre-kickoff emotion, the Addicks actually opened brightly with bright spark Jay Dasilva prominent in their early attacks. The left back's cleverly chipped cross to the far post caused consternation but continued uninterrupted to safety, then his exchange of passes with Ricky Holmes set up the winger's quickly taken drive, which McGee touched over the bar. Shortly before the interval, Dasilva's left-footed curler again extended McGee but that was as dangerous as the home side were to get until Best's 90th minute effort came close to rescuing them again.

At the other end, Pompey were hardly more menacing. Ben Amos was required to match McGee's athleticism to keep out Gareth Evans' dipping drive, while Solly's fine block on Conor Chaplin's close range shot and Amos' alert reaction to Stuart O'Keefe's follow-up kept Charlton level until the interval. Two minutes after the break, however, they fell behind to a goal which loomed even that early as a matchwinner.

Taking a duel for possession with Jamal Lowe one step too far, Dasilva was ruled to have fouled the livewire midfielder. In ideal range for setpiece specialist Edwards, the 40-yard free kick was clipped over a forest of heads and turned inadvertently into his own net, under pressure from O'Keefe, by the straining Josh Magennis.

Portsmouth had found what they were looking for, a single goal which they committed themselves to defending doggedly and decisively. Midway through the second period, they were handed the chance to double their advantage when Solly inexplicably manhandled Brett Pitman inside the penalty area. Prolific scorer Pitman was the obvious choice to take the spotkick but was foiled by Amos' brilliant anticipation and full length save to his left.

With 20 minutes remaining, Amos' heroism might, under normal circumstances, have galvanised his side into unlikely recovery. And they tried, it's important to acknowledge that they tried. But their efforts were laboured, unimaginative and ultimately fruitless. Entirely predictable, as well.

Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. Pompey had been waiting for 25 years to taste it. On this chilly December afternoon, the score was effectively settled. Nothing to be seen here...we'll move on.

Karl Robinson was probably not the only one who winced when this second round Cup draw was announced. It wasn't exactly the tie from hell but it came close.

Robinson's long stint as manager of MK Dons has dragged Charlton unwillingly into the ongoing dispute between the original Dons of Wimbledon and those ersatz claim jumpers from Milton Keynes. It's become a classic ménage à trois in which the Addicks play the reluctant role of the "other club". And that always ends in tears.

With injuries beginning to bite into his squad, Robinson brought his survivors, his walking wounded but only six substitutes into the bearpit awaiting them in Kingston, where their hosts clearly fancied their chances.

Neal Ardley had targeted obvious weaknesses at the heart of the visiting defence, where Ezri Konsa and Naby Sarr are prone to error and self indulgent in possession. A steady diet of long balls, including those regularly launched by goalkeeper George Long, tested their resolve and exposed as defensive Russian Roulette their dedication to playing out from the back in favour of a more pragmatic policy. Konsa and Sarr are cultured ballplayers, admirable in their way, but not fully tuned in to what should be the pressing priorities of centre backs. It took Wimbledon just ten minutes to exploit their vulnerability.

Surging out of his own half, impressive Deji Oshilaja carried the fight into Charlton's penalty area, where he was confronted by an advancing Ben Amos and harassed by a retreating Konsa. The latter had an opportunity to clear the danger but hesitated; Amos was suitably nonplussed. Extricating the ball from an inelegant mix-up, Cody McDonald planted the gift into a gaping goal.

A minute after the disaster, Sarr's curious vulnerability in the air almost cost his side a second setback. At 6'5", he should be expected to dominate the relatively diminutive Lyle Taylor but lost out to the Dons' lively forward as they duelled under an innocuous high ball. Moving goalside of his floundering rival, Taylor drove into the sidenet from an awkward angle.

Robinson's mounting injuries have visited the centre back dilemma on him but have at least opened up possibilities elsewhere. He was well served at right back by promising Anfernee Diijksteel who, apart from conceding a dubious late penalty, was a tenacious, combative revelation.

Up front, meanwhile, Karlan Ahearne-Grant was pacy and mobile until a nasty looking mouth wound forced his premature, second half withdrawal. Having ended his goal drought with that dramatic added time equaliser against Peterborough, he made it two from two with another poacher's contribution on 21 minutes. Picking up possession as Josh Magennis flicked on Amos' long clearance, he fed Mark Marshall to his right before intelligently moving into position to turn the winger's hard, low cross past George Long from close range. It was precisely the kind of finishing that has been missing from the Addicks' armoury this season.

Left helpless by Ahearne-Grant's finish, Long distinguished himself early in the second session with fine saves from Magennis and Marshall. As the visitors piled on the pressure, the defiant keeper reacted brilliantly to fingertip Jay Dasilva's deflected drive on to the bar, with Magennis making a five-yard mess of firing the convenient rebound over the bar. Charlton had shot their bolt and it came as no surprise that the Dons removed any need of an unhelpful replay.

Accepting Barry Fuller's throw-in, Macdonald evaded Sarr's clumsy attempts to haul him back on the right touchline and, as referee Linington alertly applied advantage, shook off the huge centre back like a dog shaking off water. The striker's unselfish delivery left Taylor with the simple task of shooting past Amos and Charlton's Cup run, such as it ever is, was over bar, of course the local shouting when Dijksteel was harshly ruled to have tripped Taylor on the edge of the penalty area. The victim competently sealed the issue from the penalty spot. Not that it was ever much of an issue in the first place.

It was scruffy. It was ugly at times. And it was undeniably blessed with one enormous stroke of luck. But this untidy game, littered with fouls committed by their unscrupulous visitors, provided the victory so urgently required by Charlton after the bitter disappointment they suffered three days previously. They will look back on this result, though not their untidy performance, with satisfaction.

Let's deal with the stroke of luck first. Nervous and disjointed, the Addicks were already trailing to full debutant Matthew Gillam's first goal for the Lancastrians when Calvin Andrew outmuscled Ezri Konsa under a high ball and flicked on for Matthew Done, isolated in a mismatch with Jay Dasilva. Shaking off the diminutive left back, Done made space for a low drive which beat Ben Amos, hit the inside of the left upright and made its way along the goalline, seeming certain to end up in the net until it improbably veered to safety. Victims themselves of a similarly bad break against MK Dons, Charlton were hardly likely to feel guilt for their good fortune. The thing was to make good use of it and, after much huffing and not a little puffing, that's exactly what they did.

Had Done's effort found the net, Charlton might have found their task beyond them. Their brittle defending was exposed as early as the 13th minute when young Gillam fired Dale into the lead. The combined efforts of Ben Reeves and Chris Solly were unable to prevent left back Joseph Bunney, sent away by Harrison McGahey's pass, from crossing low into the box. Moving intelligently to the near post, Gillam flicked a clever shot across Ben Amos, whose straining fingertips succeeded only in diverting the ball into the far corner.

Having operated on the right flank so far this season, Andrew had been switched to the middle by wily old codger Keith Hill in a bid to unsettle Konsa and Naby Sarr, Charlton's novice centre backs. Backing in artfully, while using methods both fair and foul to bother his youthful adversaries, Dale's experienced No. 9 was a a prickly handful. He should have scored when picked out by Donervon Daniels' inswinging corner but headed wastefully over the bar. Having drawn the short straw of marking him, Konsa stuck gamely to his job and, to his credit, gradually solved the problem. It was an education for the aspiring youngster.

The visitors, meanwhile, continued their policy of committing regular, niggling offences to break up the game. Which made their indignation when Oliver Rathbone was booked for clearly tripping Reeves just a little absurd. They paid for their cynicism as Ricky Holmes' short free kick freed Dasilva to centre from the left. Sarr's inadvertent touch helped the alert Jake Forster-Caskey to slot the equaliser past Joshua Lillis from four yards.

Relieved and slightly lucky to reach half-time on even terms, Charlton resumed in more determined mood. Five minutes after resumption, Ahmed Kashi's whiplash drive cannoned off the right-hand post at such pace that Holmes proved unable to control the rebound. The Addicks were poised to take over but were instead indebted to Amos for a pair of truly outstanding saves which kept Dale at bay.

Struggling to cope with Andrews' physicality, Dasilva's despairing foul on the bustling forward conceded a free kick which Callum Camps tapped to Daniels on the left. The midfielder's deep cross was met by Ian Henderson's head and, at point blank range, seemed destined for the net until Amos reacted instinctively to waft it over the bar. If his first save was unbelievable, then the pretzel-shaped contortions which the brilliant keeper produced to keep out substitute Bradden Inman's equally close range effort matched it. He's a polished diamond but could use a little help with his kicking.

By the time Amos performed his second miracle, Karl Robinson's men were in front, thanks to a second flash of opportunism from Forster-Caskey. Pouncing on the loose ball after Lillis had spilled Mark Marshall's crisp but scarcely lethal drive, the attacking midfielder swivelled and shovelled the winner past the stricken keeper.

Undignified and at times downright embarrassing in hanging on so grimly against such modest opposition, the Addicks might have been spared their inevitable nerves had Karlan Ahearne-Grant sandwiched an overdue goal between Amos' heroics. Rising to meet Josh Magennis' cross with the entire net at his mercy, the substitute headed lamely into Lillis' hands. His second half stint in relief of hamstring-tweaking Reeves had been hugely encouraging but, as Karl Robinson remarked, Ahearne-Grant really needs to score. As the Addicks begin to feel the strain and injuries multiply, further chances will come. He may yet turn out to be Charlton's ace-in-the-hole.

Already qualified for the knock-out stages of the Checkatrade Trophy, a surprisingly strong Charlton selection failed to secure even the draw which would have guaranteed them, as group winners, a home tie in the next round. Instead they face the possibility of an inconvenient away trip which, despite regionalisation still being a factor, might see them travel to the western tip of the island.

A far less experienced Portsmouth side scored early, played neat, composed football and won this final group game without undue difficulty. Though the Addicks beavered away earnestly in search of an equaliser and missed the proverbial hatful of chances, Pompey keeper Luke McGee remained relatively untroubled in the eye of a storm which menaced but amounted to nothing.

Charlton's finishing was deplorable, as nutshelled by the clumsy mess Naby Sarr made of converting an exquisite delivery struck deliciously with the outside of Ricky Holmes' right foot in added time. Pushed forward in a last throw of Karl Robinson's dice, Sarr was admittedly under defensive pressure at the far post but lacked conviction and commitment in meeting the cross.

Sarr's missed opportunity neatly bookended a catalogue of near things begun after 30 seconds by Karlan Ahearne-Grant. Picked out in an identical position by Tarique Fosu's deep centre from the left, Ahearne-Grant was unable to make telling contact and shovelled wide. Even his sternest critic must feel a pang of compassion for a player so clearly struggling to realise his potential.

Fosu's contribution was his first and last flourish, as he departed after just nine minutes to be replaced by Ben Reeves. Shortly after he limped off, the visitors grabbed their matchwinner. Milan Lalkovic's cross from the left was returned from the far post by Kai Naismith and tapped home by Curtis Main.

Up front for the Addicks, Joe Dodoo's feeble efforts spotlighted Robinson's glaring lack of support for Josh Magennis. The Northern Irishman toils selflessly but could hardly be described as a prolific scorer. Neither the Academy nor the loan system has produced a natural predator, a succession of candidates emerging with impressive scoring credentials at junior level but appearing to freeze in front of the grown-ups' goal before seeking sanctuary on the wing.. Ahearne-Grant and Dodoo fit this bill, while late substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild tried his best without suggesting he was equipped to buck the trend. Others, including Brandon Hanlan, Mikhail Kennedy and Josh Umerah, have been farmed out on loan. Charlton are in dire need of a finishing school.

Sixteen of Charlton's 23 league goals, meanwhile, have been distributed among their talented midfield with Magennis (4) and Dodoo (1) scoring the only goals by a recognised striker. Centre back Patrick Bauer's early season pair accounts for the balance. In fairness, they've made a little go a long way.

Enough said then about a virtually meaningless setback in a correspondingly meaningless competition. I'm only sorry I brought it up. Move on.

When Wimbledon goalkeeper George Long was booked for making a laborious, time-consuming meal of placing the ball for a free kick just ten minutes into the second half, he was reinforcing the line his side had metaphorically drawn in the sand at the start of this bitterly disputed local derby. The Dons had headed eastward along the Thames in pursuit of a point and they didn't much care who knew it or how they achieved it. In their parlous position just above League One's relegation basement, their dogged attitude was understandable. It was also dangerously provocative to hosts with a score to settle.

Memories of the SW Londoners' smash-and-grab win at The Valley in September 2016 and the last minute equaliser in Kingston earlier this year, which mocked Charlton's hunger for revenge, were still raw in S.E.7. On Saturday, they came within 12 minutes of sucking up a further dose of frustration. Until, that is, another booking led directly to the visitors' downfall.

Hardnosed and competitive, Dons' skipper Barry Fuller is a doughty opponent. Already limping painfully from a knock sustained early in the second half, the gutsy ex-Charlton academy graduate was left to struggle on though substitutes were still available. Clearly targeted by speedster Ricky Holmes, manager Neal Ardley's reluctance to replace his handicapped talisman was to cost him a sorely needed point.

Left hopelessly trailing Holmes as the flying winger turned towards the penalty area, all of Fuller's experience was brought to bear in tripping his tormentor carefully computed inches the safe side of the 18-yard line. Perfectly placed referee Ben Toner's correct decision to award a free kick rather than a penalty appeared to vindicate Fuller's cynicism but Holmes had other ideas. From an awkward angle close to the left byline, his breathtaking setpiece, cleared the wall, soared over the desperately backtracking Long's head and nestled sweetly inside the far post. There were still one or two awkward moments for Charlton to negotiate but the game was already up for Ardley's stubborn but unambitious troops.

Winners by 1-0 three times in their last four games, meanwhile, during which they have managed the same number of goals, Karl Robinson's resourceful team have learned to make a little go a long way. Their defending, exemplified by the excellence of centre backs Patrick Bauer and Ezri Konsa, has provided a bedrock. Behind them, Ben Amos has been faultless and in front of them a human shield has been erected by Ahmed Kashi.

Diminutive full backs Chris Solly and Jay Dasilva are encouraged to spend as much time in the opposition's half as they do in their own. A perceived lack of support for lone striker Josh Magennis has been ameliorated, at least temporarily, by the important goals recently contributed by a hard-grafting midfield.

The first half of this uninspiring game was frankly dreadful and, for that, Charlton were as much at fault as their well organised visitors. For the record, Jake Forster-Caskey sent a free kick, awarded for Tom Soares' foul on Tarique Fosu, limply over the bar and Fosu himself drove embarrassing yards wide from distance. For the Dons, Lyle Taylor was set up by Liam Trotter and Andy Barcham but blazed hopelessly wide of his target. If memory serves, those were the only attempts at goal and have been mentioned solely to pad out an otherwise alarmingly flimsy report.

Following the break, the exchanges improved, though still falling far short of excitement. Making space along the left flank, nippy Dasilva left Nadjim Abdou awash in his slipstream before delivering a telling cross. met on the volley by Fosu wide of the far post but crucially blocked by Darius Charles. In reply, substitute Callum Kennedy's free kick ricocheted off brick-in-the-wall Foster-Caskey to swerve perilously behind for a right wing corner. From George Francombe's ensuing flagkick, impressive centre back Deji Oshilaja spun on an inconclusive clearance but, from the penalty spot, blazed Wimbledon's best chance of the game over the bar.

Hustling, harassing and harrying the out-of-sorts Addicks, the Dons were within touching distance of their goal when the normally astute Ardley's curious decision not to relieve a clearly struggling Fuller caught up with them. The crippled right back's percentage foul on Holmes backfired badly, leaving his victim, scorer of an even better free kick during the 1-1 draw at Kingsmeadow last February, to be Wimbledon's deadball nemesis yet again.

Without Tom Elliott to provide a last minute equaliser, as he did in that toxic stand-off, AFC nevertheless came within a whisker of repeating their dramatic escape. Local hearts were in local mouths as Solly's misguided header sent Francombe's ballooning cross skittering to safety off Amos' crossbar. Behind the goal, 1357 travellers subsided into helpless frustration before re-doubling their foul-mouthed assault on Robinson. It's a crying shame. They'll break the poor man one day.